Proposed US deal with Taliban names former Emirate of Insurrection

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is considering how to deal with the Taliban to identify the insurgents with the name of their former hardline regime, which Washington previously rejected as illegitimate. Two foreign diplomats and one Taliban source told NBC News.

If the term "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" were approved in a definitive agreement, it would be considered by the Taliban a diplomatic coup that presented itself as a waiting government since it ousted power in a US-led intervention However, in a draft of the proposed US-Taliban agreement, insurgents have long been considered repugnant and potentially harmful. The "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan", but the word "Taliban" also appears in the text, said two familiar with the discussions foreign diplomats to NBC News.

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Negin Ekhpulwak, director of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, practices at the National Institute of Music in Afghanistan Kabul Kabul, Afghanistan, April 9, 2016. In Afghanistan, instrumental playing under Taliban rule was banned, and even today many conservative Muslims disapprove of most forms of music. The 19-year-old Negin lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. "FIND THE FURTHER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX PICTURES OF THE DAY

A member of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, is preparing for a rehearsal on April 4, 2016 at the Afghan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan in front. In Afghanistan, playing instruments was forbidden under Taliban rule, and many conservative Muslims still disapprove of most types of music today. 19-year-old negro Ikhpolwak lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH FOR ALL STORIES

A member of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, practices during a rehearsal on April 4, 2016 at the Afghan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Playing Instruments Has Been Prohibited The Taliban is ruling in Afghanistan, and many conservative Muslims still disapprove of most types of music today. 19-year-old negro Ikhpolwak lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. SEE ALL THE STORIES FOR THE FOLLOWING IMAGES

Members of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, teach a rehearsal at a rehearsal at the Afghan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. April 4, 2016. Playing instruments was banned under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, and many conservative Muslims still disapprove of most forms of music today. 19-year-old negro Ikhpolwak lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. "SEE THE FURTHER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES

A music student looks into the class of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women at the National Music Institute of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 4, 2016. Playing instruments was banned The Taliban ruling in Afghanistan, and many conservative Muslims still disapprove of most types of music today. 19-year-old negro Ikhpolwak lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. "FINDING THE FURTHER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES

Ahmad Naser Sarmast, head of the Afghan National Music Institute, speaks with members of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, on April 4, 2016 in Kabul, Afghanistan Under the Taliban's rule banned in Afghanistan, and many conservative Muslims still disapprove of most types of music today. 19-year-old negro Ikhpolwak lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. SEE ALL THE STORIES FOR THE FOLLOWING IMAGE

A member of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, plays for fun as she walks around the Afghan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan on April 9, 2016 banned by the Taliban in Afghanistan, and many conservative Muslims still disapprove of most forms of music today. 19-year-old negro Ikhpolwak lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. "FIND THE FURTHER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES

Fakria Azizi, a member of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, practices during a session at the Afghan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 4, 2016. Playing instruments have been banned under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, and even today, many conservative Muslims disapprove of most types of music. 19-year-old negro Ikhpolwak lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. "THE FURTHER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES SEE TPX PICTURES OF THE DAY

Mina Salarzai, a member of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, performs on April 9, 2016 at the Afghan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, playing instruments was forbidden under Taliban rule, and many conservative Muslims still disapprove of most types of music today. 19-year-old negro Ikhpolwak lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. "SEE ALL THE PICTURE" FOR ALL STORIES

Negin Ekhpulwak, director of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, conducts a rehearsal on April 9, 2016 at the Afghan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan Taliban banned in Afghanistan, and many conservative Muslims still disapprove of most types of music today. The 19-year-old Negin lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. SEE ALL THE STORIES FOR THE FOLLOWING IMAGE

Members of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, attend a rehearsal on April 4, 2016 at the Afghan National Institute of Music in Kabul. Playing Instruments was banned under Taliban rule In Afghanistan, and even today, many conservative Muslims see most types of music wrong. 19-year-old negro Ikhpolwak lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "THE FURTHER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES

A score will be shown during a trial session of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, on April 9, 2016 at the Afghan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan, under the rule The Taliban are banned in Afghanistan, and many conservative Muslims still disapprove of most forms of music today. 19-year-old negro Ikhpolwak lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. SEE ALL THE STORIES FOR THE FOLLOWING IMAGE

Sahar Malikzai, a member of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, performs on April 9, 2016 at the Afghan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Playing Instruments Has Been Prohibited The Taliban is ruling in Afghanistan, and many conservative Muslims still disapprove of most types of music today. 19-year-old negro Ikhpolwak lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. "SEE ALL THE PICTURE" FOR ALL STORIES

Mina Salarzai, member of the Zohra Orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, holds her trumpet on April 9, 2016 in Kabul, Afghanistan, at the Afghan National Institute of Music Taliban banned in Afghanistan, and many conservative Muslims still disapprove of most types of music today. 19-year-old negro Ikhpolwak lives in an orphanage in the capital Kabul and directs an ensemble of 35 women who play both Western and Afghan musical instruments. In a country known internationally for the severe restrictions of women in most walks of life, Negin's story proves a double challenge. REUTERS / Ahmad Masood SEARCH "ORCHESTRA KABUL" FOR THIS STORY. SEE THE WIDER IMAGE FOR ALL STORIES

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The wording is a compromise attempt as the Taliban use their former regime name to refer to the country.

A high-ranking Taliban Hibatullah Akhunzada, a figure linked to the leader of the insurgency, told NBC News that the group's negotiators insisted on including the wording "Islamic Emirate".

The Foreign Ministry declined to comment.

The Taliban have continued to use the name of the Emirates to reiterate their view that their old regime is the legitimate government of Afghanistan, not those that succeeded after the US invasion of 2001 following the 9/11 attacks is.

Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States and now a high-ranking employee of the Hudson Institute's think tank, said the proposed language was part of a sample of US concessions to the Taliban and could be a recruitment tool for the insurgent ,

"By allowing the Taliban to call themselves in brackets the Islamic Emirate, they can build the tale that they forced the US to negotiate to leave Afghanistan, just as the mujahedeen had driven the Soviets out. " He referred to fighters who fought in the 1980s against the USSR occupation army.

"If the government is anxious to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, it would have been better to announce a no-deal exit than to allow the Taliban such a big propaganda victory.

The formulation debate is just one element of a possible agreement between the Taliban and the Trump government that sets the conditions for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan after almost 18 years. In turn, the Taliban would undertake to sever all ties with Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

Officials are also urging the Taliban to engage in peace negotiations with the Afghan government, which has long dismissed militants as "puppet regimes" and not recognized them.

After ten months of talks, US Presidential Zalmay Khalilzad entered the negotiations A ninth round of discussions with his Taliban colleagues last Friday in Doha, after expressing optimism and an imminent agreement.

Taliban sources told NBC News that their negotiating team met Skype on Monday with its leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan, including leader of the rebellion, Akhunzada, before meeting with the US delegation again on Monday.

A Previous Peace Attempt Talks with the Taliban during the Obama administration failed early, in part because the uprising used the phrase "Islamic Emirate." After the US agreed to allow the Taliban to open an office in Qatar, the Taliban designated the office as embassy, ​​and representatives spoke in front of cameras in front of a sign saying "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," which angered the Afghan government.

The First The Taliban regime, in power from 1996 to 2001, was recognized by only three governments and was known for its repressive rule, which was based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law. These included draconian measures that kept girls from attending school or women away from work outside the home.

The Taliban "is a small group that has to terrorize the Afghans and treat them as a group," said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. "They could try to assert other names, but Americans can not accept their demands, the Afghan government will firmly oppose that."

Afghan Ambassador to the United States, Royha Rahmani, said she has not seen any US text. Taliban agreement in discussion. However, she said the title, which is linked to the former Taliban regime, is an inheritance of authoritarian rule and would be totally unacceptable in future peace talks between the group and the Afghan government.

"Islamic Emirates are not just a name but a whole system of governance. The Afghan people lived under this system and unanimously rejected it, "Rahmani said.

Maintaining the current democratic system" is a red line in the peace negotiations. "The US-Taliban agreement could be a way for parties to" identify as they want "and" it does not mean that others recognize their legitimacy, "said former US diplomat Laurel Miller, who is now head of the Asian program at the International Crisis Group Think Tank.

But she added, "One can not ignore the fact that there is such a tremendous symbolic significance that the US is signing an agreement that has that formulation."

Taliban sources said the two sides were close to an agreement outlining the withdrawal of US troops, and that the uprising is ready to stop attacks on US forces, despite the idea of ​​a ceasefire with the Afghan government

According to Taliban sources, states would stop military operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Taliban would not oppose US and NATO struggles proponents who are familiar with the discussions.

However, President Donald Trump's negotiator rejected reports that the United States would no longer provide assistance to the Afghan government's security forces as soon as Washington agreed on a withdrawal period with the Taliban.

"Nobody should be intimidated or betrayed by propaganda!" Tweeted Khalilzad on Monday. Let me be clear: we will defend the Afghan forces now and after every deal with the Talibs. All sides agree that the future of Afghanistan will be decided in intra-Afghan negotiations. "

If an agreement between the US and the Taliban is reached, Khalilzad hopes that the peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government will start immediately. The first round of talks is expected to take place in Oslo, possibly chaired by Khalilzad, foreign diplomats and former US officials said. However, the details of how the US-Taliban agreement could be linked to possible peace talks are unclear.

While the Taliban and the United States are approaching an agreement, Ghani – whose government is not participating in discussions in Doha – has vowed to continue the elections on September 28, even as peace talks with the insurgents begin.

In Washington, some lawmakers warn the White House that such an agreement could aggravate civil war and revive Al-Qaeda and al Qaeda The Islamic State.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, usually a strong supporter of Trump, plans to impose laws requiring the US government to confirm that the withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan will not jeopardize US national security. [19659002] "There is no substitute for American forces in Afghanistan to protect the American homeland from radical Islam. There will be another September 11th if we pull the plug, "Graham told Fox News Tuesday. "If you do not believe me, ask the generals in the intelligence community."

The senator said he had talked to the president about the issue and Trump "understands the need for an anti-terrorist force" to stay in the country against al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Dan De Luce and Abigail Williams reported from Washington, Mushtaq Yusufzai from Peshawar, Pakistan, and Ahmed Mengli from Kabul, Afghanistan.

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